Oktoberfest Food and Drinks: The Wiesn Classics for Home

💡 By the way: That's exactly why we built the SwigSki3000® — four people, one ski, one shot on cue. More on that below ↓

Oktoberfest — known locally as the Wiesn, Germany's most famous beer festival — isn't Oktoberfest without hearty food. Oktoberfest food and drinks are all about hearty, sociable dishes that keep you going through a long celebration – and the best part: you can pull off most of the classics at home without any trouble. Here's the complete menu for your Oktoberfest party, from Brotzeit (Bavarian snack platter) to Kaiserschmarrn, plus the drinks that go with it and a simple quantity plan so nobody goes hungry or thirsty. From quick finger food to a big roast, there's something here for any number of guests.

Brotzeit & Finger Food: The Wiesn Starter

A proper Brotzeit belongs with arrival drinks and beer. It can be prepared entirely in advance and just goes straight on the table:

• Brezn: The Wiesn staple – fresh from the bakery, ideally stacked into a Brezn pyramid.
• Obatzda: The spicy Camembert spread with onions, served with fresh Brezn or farmhouse bread.
• Radi & radishes: Thinly sliced and salted – crisp and refreshing alongside beer.
• Wurstsalat & Leberkäse: Hearty, filling and quick to prepare.
• Brotzeit board: Mountain cheese, bacon, pickles and mustard on a wooden board – great for sharing.

Handy side effect: because the SwigSki3000® is made of four individually removable modules, it just goes into the dishwasher after the round instead of gathering dust in a corner.

Main Dishes: Hearty & Filling

When real hunger hits, it's time for the classics – this is what to eat at Oktoberfest for the main course:

• Hendl: The crispy roast chicken is the most popular Wiesn feast. At home, it works just as well from the oven or the grill.
• Schweinshaxn: With a crackling crust, served with dumplings and cabbage – the festive dish for a bigger group.
• Weißwurst: Traditionally eaten before noon, with sweet mustard and Brezn – don't forget to "zuzeln" (suck it out of the skin).
• Schweinsbraten with dumplings: The Sunday roast in Wiesn form, ideal for preparing ahead for a large group.

A Sweet Finish

Sweet tooths get their fair share at Oktoberfest too. Kaiserschmarrn with apple sauce or stewed plums is the classic, apple strudel with vanilla sauce the more elegant option, and candied almonds bring that fairground scent straight to your party. All three can be prepared in bigger batches and kept warm. A tip for the house party: put the Kaiserschmarrn on the table in a large baking dish and let everyone help themselves – it saves work and fits the sociable Wiesn mood, where everything gets shared anyway. If you want the full fairground feel, serve a bowl of candied almonds or chocolate-covered fruit on the side for snacking.

Oktoberfest Drinks: Beer, Radler & the Nightcap

Beer rules at Oktoberfest, but the drinks selection should be wider – so non-beer-drinkers and designated drivers are covered too:

• Helles & Festbier: The Wiesn beer, classically served in a Maß (one-litre beer stein).
• Radler: Beer mixed with lemon soda – lighter and more refreshing for the long afternoon.
• Aperol Spritz & white wine spritzer: The fizzy alternatives for a summer Oktoberfest.
• Non-alcoholic: Alcohol-free beer, Spezi (cola-lemonade mix) and apple spritzer for anyone pacing themselves or driving.
• The proper Bavarian schnapps: An Obstler (fruit brandy) or herbal schnapps as a nightcap – best enjoyed together from the Shotski.

Serving Shots: The Social Highlight

A proper Bavarian schnapps tastes best shared. Instead of pouring it one glass at a time, turn it into a ritual: the Shotski – a ski fitted with four glasses – gets four people drinking on command at the same time. It brings the group together and is the photo moment of every Oktoberfest party. For a summer Oktoberfest, it works just as well with Aperol shots instead of schnapps.

Quick Obatzda Recipe: Make It Yourself

The classic you can make in five minutes, and one that can't be missing from any Wiesn spread. For four to six people:

• 1 ripe Camembert (200 g/7 oz), mashed
• 50 g (3½ tbsp) soft butter
• 1 small onion, finely diced
• 1 tsp sweet paprika, a pinch of caraway, salt & pepper
• a splash of beer for a creamy consistency

Mash everything together with a fork, season to taste and let it sit for at least an hour. Garnish with fresh onion rings and serve with Brezn – and there's your Wiesn spread, guaranteed to be the first thing to disappear.

Order In or Make It Yourself?

You don't have to cook everything yourself. A smart mix saves time and nerves: Brezn and Hendl are best picked up fresh from the bakery and butcher, braised dishes like Haxn or roast pork are prepared the day before, and small things like Obatzda and Radi come together quickly at home. That way, on party day you're free to focus on your guests instead of standing in the kitchen. For bigger groups, catering the main course is worth it – you can still handle the Brotzeit and drinks yourself. That keeps the party relaxed and lets you actually join in, instead of spending the whole evening at the stove.

If the group grows, the Shotski simply grows with it thanks to the extension set — four modules are the base, and each additional pair adds two more spots.

Quantity Planner: How Much to Get for the Party

So neither food nor drinks run out, here are the rough rules of thumb per guest for a Wiesn evening:

• Beer/drinks: roughly 1–1.5 litres over the evening, plus alcohol-free alternatives – better to chill a bit extra.
• Brotzeit: 1–2 Brezn per person, plus Obatzda and cold cuts to share.
• Main course: one Hendl feeds two people; for Haxn and roast pork, plan roughly 300–400 g of meat per guest.
• Dessert: one portion of Kaiserschmarrn or strudel per person, ideally shared straight from large baking dishes.

For more Oktoberfest food ideas, plus how to bring everything together with decorations, games and gadgets, check out the full guide to hosting an Oktoberfest party. And the right Oktoberfest drinking games make sure there's no lull between courses.

FAQ – Frequently Asked Questions About Oktoberfest Food and Drinks